Fresh allegations have been raised against the recently concluded 2023 (2024) GCE Ordinary Level Examinations.
Several students had raised concerns over the question papers as well as irregularities at the examination centres during the examination, with fresh allegations being raised following its conclusion.
14 Tamil-medium students of Al-Aman Muslim Maha Vidyalaya in Minuwangoda alleged that they were not provided with the part 1 paper and maps for the Geography subject consisting of 50 marks.
“When we requested the part 1 paper, they said it had been given. Until the end, we were not given the question paper. All the students are capable of doing geography well. Losing 50 marks is very unfair,” they said, speaking to reporters.
Meanwhile, allegations have also been raised about failing to permit the requested services for two special needs children.
It was reported that a special needs student who sat for the exam at the centre in St. Anthonys School in Wattala had been prevented from receiving the services of an individual to write out the answers for him, which had been permitted by the Exam Department.
The parents of the child filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka alleging that the special service for their child had been suspended for the part 2 paper of the English Language.
A special needs student from Methodist College Colombo who had received permission to obtain the services of an individual to write out the answers for her for four subjects had also been suspended.
Despite the school authorities having informed the officials of the exam centre in this regard, the child had been prevented from obtaining the said services for the four exams.
The child’s parents have also filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on the unfair treatment. Having waited for nearly four hours at the Human Rights Commission, the parents of the children revealed that officials from the Department of Examinations had not appeared to resolve the matter.
Commenting on the incidents, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin condemned the unfair treatment of the students sitting for the examination.
He said the issue was that Tamil-language officials were not stationed in schools undergoing exams in the said language and the officials present were unable to communicate or understand the requirements of the students.
Joseph Stalin also pointed out that there were special provisions in the law for students with special needs sitting for examinations, adding that it was regrettable to see the rights of the children being violated when such legal provisions were available. (Newswire)
